Riverside Renewal Faces Obstacles

CORAL SPRINGS — An idea to convert an aging section of Riverside Drive into a corridor of offices, shops and apartments faces a host of hurdles, experts say.

First, deed restrictions that prohibit commercial uses there. Second, the area lacks a large business to serve as a magnet for smaller businesses. In addition, there is inadequate parking.

The comments came in a report prepared by three consulting companies hired by the city to figure out how to give a boost to the section of Riverside Drive, now home to rundown apartments. The targeted strip is between Sample and Wiles roads.

Residents can discuss the matter with consultants at 7 p.m. Monday at Coral Springs High School, 7201 W. Sample Road.

The idea to create a commercial corridor came from about 40 area residents who call themselves the Villagers.

"If they don't take our option, that's OK," said Kim Flaig, the Villagers' spokeswoman. "We want to see an option that is pro-Coral Springs. We want to see a revitalization option. We don't see it yet."

The options presented in the report offer "no long-term goals for beautification, economic reform, aesthetic reform," Flaig said. "Everybody was very depressed after they read it."

The city hired the consultants last year to advise them how to stop Riverside Drive from decaying further. For years, neighbors have complained about illegally parked cars, trash and overgrown lots.

The report to be discussed Monday contains four options, but the final plan doesn't have to match any of them, said Lee Einsweiler, senior planner with Siemon, Larsen & Marsh. It can be a combination of ideas from each of the options, he said.

All the consultants' alternatives call for the city to buy buildings and vacant lots along Riverside Drive. The buildings would be demolished and used for parking.

On the vacant lots, the city would put either parking lots or build apartments for the residents who lose their homes to the wrecking ball. Unlike current buildings, the replacement buildings - which the city would ultimately sell - would have enough parking.

The main difference in the alternatives is in the numbers of buildings and vacant lots to be purchased.

The report also says the city could put a community center and pool in a large apartment building, establish parks in vacant lots, build a bike path, and build decks around a nearby canal for social and recreational activities.

The problem is that the idea caters to renters without acknowledging the concerns of adjacent property owners, Flaig said. Also, under the plan the city would likely lose money in the resale of the replacement homes - "in other words, the taxpayer loses, the city loses, the new owner loses," according to a statement issued by the Villagers.

The costs of the plans vary from $1.18 million to $4.29 million, depending on how many buildings and lots the city buys.